Football kicking tee



April 30, 1963 A. POGUE FOOTBALL KICKING TEE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 25. 1960 'ATTO RNEY.

' April 30, 1963 A. POGUE 3,087,726

FOOTBALL KICKING TEE Filed Oct. 25. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTDRNEK United States Pate 3,087,726 FOOTBALL KICKING TEE Albert Pogue, 411 E. 9th Ave., Roselle, N .J Filed Oct. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 64,751 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-55) This invention deals with football kicking tees used in placing the ball prior to point after touchdown or for kicking field goals. More specifically, it relates to a positioning and guiding tee having a base on which are mounted two collapsible upright supports between which the ball is positioned for kicking. The invention also includes guiding means disposed on the base and uprights, as well as other novel features. Although the device of the present invention is useful during football games, its greater value is utilized in the training of players for kicking footballs for points after touchdown of for field goals.

Prior to the placement for point after touchdown, at the present time, the football is placed upright in a tilted position in a small cup inserted in the ground. This cup is picked up after the play when the ball and the players have left the area. Such positioning of the ball by cup is not a very suitable nor appropriate operation because, in the first place, the ball is diificult to position due to the natural irregularities in the surface of the ball and often due to muddy or rainy field conditions. Also, through no fault of the placer, the ball can be moved slightly by wind so as to cause undesired deflection upon kicking. Due to the small size of the cup, the ball is in an unstable position and thus is a source of annoyance, apprehension, and concern to the kicker.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a stable positioning means for the ball, making it free of possible displacement by gusts of wind or rain. Another purpose is to provide a safe tee which would not injure a player who inadvertently fell over it. A further purpose is to provide a guide and aiming means to 'aid the kicker in placing the ball in the desired location. These objects are achieved by the device of the present invention wherein a flat base is employed on which are mounted spaced, movable upright members. Various indicia also are applied to the base and the uprights, as will be outlined further.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment is described and in which FIGURE 1 illustrates a front elevation thereof. A side elevation thereof is depicted in FIGURE 2, while a top or plan view is illustrated in FIGURE 3. FIGURE 4 presents a rear elevation thereof. A front elevation of a modified tee employing the present invention is shown in FIGURE 5, while a top or plan view thereof is illustrated in FIGURE 6. Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the various figures.

Referring again to the drawings, numeral 1 represents a flat base, made of plastic, rubber, or similar pliable material, and having :a bluntly-oval rear portion 9 and a beveled straight front portion 12. Attached at each side on the forward portion of base 1 are mounting strips 3 and 3 to the sides of which are affixed, in swiveling relation, upright members 4 and 4. Pins or screws 5 and 5' serve as swivels enabling the uprights to move back- 3,087,726 Patented Apr. 30, 1963 wardly and forwardly, although their rearward motion is limited by stops 25 and 25, so that in their most rearwardly positions, uprights 4 and 4 are tilted at a slightly backward angle, so as to collapse readily when and if blocking player-s fall thereon. The distance between uprights 4 and 4' is such that a football will pass therethrough when in a vertical position. Springs 6 and 6' have their lower ends attached to mountings 3 and 3', respectively, at 6a, and their upper ends attached .to uprights 4 and 4', respectively, at 6b, with tension adjusted so that the uprights are at their limits at stops 25 and 25 at all times, except when a weight is applied to the upper portions of the uprights, at which time the uprights will col lapse or yield readily in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 2 until the pressure is removed, whereupon they will rise again to the stop limits.

Attached to the forward inside surfaces and at the top of uprights 4, 4' are stop strips 7 and 7, preferably having a beveled inner surface, so that when a football 11 is placed vertically between the uprights, the ball will rest with its back on the 'bevels of stops 7 and 7', while the bottom of the ball rests on base 1.

The spot on base 1 on which the ball is to be placed may be marked with indicator 14. Marks 13 and 15 also may be placed on base 1 marking the horizontal center of the ball for guidance for the kicker. Also, lines 8 and 8' may be marked across uprights 4 and 4 to indicate the kicking area of the ball. Nails 2 and 2' projecting from the bottom of base 1 are employed to anchor the base to the ground.

When in use, the ball 11 is placed vertically between uprights 4 and 4' until the bottom of the ball rests on spot 14 and its back rests on the bevel of stop strips 7 and 7, while the sides of ball 11 rest on the sides of uprights 4 and 4'. Then, as the kicker approaches the ball, he first sights line 13 and lines 8 and 8' and determines the point of contact for his foot. As he comes closer to the ball, he obtains a view of line 15 which gives him a better alignment for the kick. When the ball is kicked, sides 4 and 4 serve as a sort of a barrel, keeping the ball straighter in flight. Thereafter, as men Walk or fall on the tee, uprights 4 and 4 collapse readily, so that no injury results to the players.

Since most kicks after touchdown fail because the kicker has no definite guiding means, it is apparent that use of the tee of the present invention would provide such guidance and would not only insure proper flight for the ball, but would also permit the present holder of the ball to engage in blocking which has not been possible hitherto.

Although it is preferred to make uprights 4 and 4 of wood, it is possible to make :a portion or all of the uprights of soft or resilient material, such as sponge rubber, pliable plastic, leather, polyurethane foam, and the like, Also, it is possible to make the base 20 and the uprights 21 and 21 of one piece of flexible or pliable plastic, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, or similar flexible and resilient material, as in FIGURES 5 and 6 the uprights 2121 being joined or cemented to base 20 at 23. Even anchors 2" may be made of the same material. Extensions 22 and 22' serve as rests for the ball, in the same manner as strip stops 7 and 7'. Since uprights 21 are resilient in nature, they would collapse when a player would fall on them, as indicated by the broken lines in 'FIGURE 5, and then return to their original shape when the weight is removed.

I claim:

A football kicking tee comprising a fiat base on which the ball is placed and having a front, sides and a back, fiat supporting arms swivelly attached at their ends to each side of said base and far enough apart to permit passage therebetween of a football, spring means attached to each of said arms and said base and designed to hold said arms upwardly at a slight angle from the vertical, a stop pro jecting from the upper inside portion of each arm designed to hold in place a football placed between said arms, a

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,608,361 Boettcher Nov. 23, 1926 1,637,339 Glennon et al. Aug. 2, 1927 2,316,994 Silva Apr. 20, 1943 2659 604 McGowen Nov. 17, 1953 

